Fig stringing machine



July 20, A

FIG STHINGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1%. Fa 1 ATTORNEY July 20, 1937. V R A 2,087,508

F IG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY qM gaJm ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1937 UNlTED STATES ass sts PAT GFFIQE 11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the dried fig packing industry and, in particular, is directed to a fig stringing machine.

For particular markets, certain types of dried,

processed figs are strung on lengths of raffia, the figs being compressed together and the ends of the raffia tied together. Usually one or two pounds of figs are placed on each length of raifia. Heretofore the dried figs have been strung individually with a large needle and by hand on the lengths of rafiia. The figs were then compressed by hand and the ends of the raffia tied. Not only was this method of stringing the figs very slow, but the labor cost, to so prepare the figs, was high.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a machine whereby a given amount of dried figs may be readily and quickly compressed and then strung upon a length of 20 Iaffia.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fig stringing machine which causes the individual figs, as a result of the compressing thereof, to assume a substantially circular configuration,

25 as is desired for their appearance.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Views:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the device illustrating the fig receiving chamber as filled and with the lid open; the needle and compressing plunger being shown in retracted positions.

Figure 2 is a top plan illustrating the lid in closed position and with the plunger advanced.

Figure 3 is a similar view but with the needle also in advanced position.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral l indicates a relatively long trough which is semicircular in cross section; the upper edges of the trough being formed with outwardly projecting, horizontal flanges 2. The trough is supported, intermediate its ends, by spaced supporting frames or cradles 3 suitably flanged along their lower edges for attachment to a work table top.

A relatively short, cylindrical, hollow plunger 4 is slidably mounted in the trough and normally disposed adjacent one end thereof; being provided on its outer end with a finger piece 5 which slidably engages flanges 2. The flanges 2 are turned up at their adjacent end as at 6, to provide stops for the plunger. At its inner end the plunger has a central orifice 1 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The trough, at the other end, is provided with a slide 3 which ismaintained on the trough but slidable relative thereto by means of guide elements 9 which extend beneath flanges 2. The outer ends of flanges 2 are turned down, as at It], to provide stops to limit outward movement of the slide. The slide 8 is provided with an upstanding finger piece I l having a needle receiving socket l2 attached to the face thereof. A needle supporting cradle l3 is mounted on the slide inwardly of finger piece H; the bottom of the cradle notch being horizontally alined with the socket l2 which in turn lies in the axial plane of the trough and plunger.

A substantially circular plate I4 is fixed in the trough at such point as to form a fig receiving chamber l5 in the trough between said plate and the inner end of the plunger when the latter is in a retracted position. The plate I4 is notched, as at It, to receive and support the inner or pointed end of a needle N whose outer end is engaged in socket I2 and resting on cradle l3.

A semi-circular lid ll is pivoted on rod I8, which extends between frames 3, for swinging movement from a position away from the trough I (Fig. 1) to a closed position over the same (Fig. 2); the lid' being only of a length to enclose the portion of the trough which forms the fig receiving chamber. The chamber I5, when the lid is closed, is circular in cross section as shown in Fig. 4. A- handle I9 is mounted on the lid to afford ease of movement of the lid.

Operation In operation, the device is employed in the following manner:

The lid I! is opened, the plunger 4 and slide 8 retracted, and a needle N disposed between cradle i3 and notched plate M with the rear end of the'needle resting in socket I2 and the I in the trough I between plate I4 and the inner end of plunger 4, and the lid then closed. With one hand on handle I9 holding lid II closed, the plunger 4 is forcefully moved inward with the other hand, compressing the figs together and squeezing them into substantially circular form.

After the step of compressing the figs, the finger piece I I of slide 8 is grasped and the slide pushed inwardly or toward the chamber, driving the needle through the figs; that is, the figs are impaled on the needle. The central opening 1 permits the point of the needle to pass beyond the last fig and enter the plunger without damage. The opening I is of sufficient size to allow the needle to project through said opening even if deflected somewhat from its axial position by its passage through the figs.

With the figs impaled upon the needle, the

lid is opened and the needle removed from the device. It then requires only a simple movement to slide the figs from the needle to the length of rafiia R, the ends of the raifiabeing tied together as the final step.

Although in the present embodiment ,of the invention, the device is shown as a single unit, if desired a multiple unit employing several troughs disposed side by side may be used. In the latter event, the several plungers and slides would be actuated by elements common to each.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth'herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fig stringing machine comprising an enclosed chamber to receive and closely surround a row of figs, means to compress the figs together, and means to project a threading needle axially through the row of figs while compressed.

2. A fig stringing machine comprising an enclosed chamber to receive and closely surround a row of figs, means to compress the figs together, means to support a threading needle in substantially axial alinement with the row of figs, and means to advance the needle and project the same through the row of figs; said chamber having an opening through which the needle enters the chamber.

3. A fig stringing machine comprising a chamber to receive a row of figs, means to compress the figs together, spaced plates arranged to support and locate a needle axially of the row of figs, one of the plates being disposed adjacent one end of the chamber, a slide upon which the other plate is mounted, means fixed on the slide to engage the end of a needle on said supports and means mounting the slide for movement toward said chamber whereby a needle .50 supported may beprojected through the row of 4..A fig stringingmachine comprising an enclosed chamber to receive and closely surround a row of figs, an abutment in said chamber forming a closure for one end of the chamber, a plunger, means mounting said plunger for sliding movement into the chamber from the other end and towardthe abutment to compress the row of figs; the inner end of the plunger when in retracted position forming a. closure for the other end of the chamber, a threading needle, and means to project said threading needle axially through the row of figs while compressed.

5. A fig stringing machine comprising a chamber to receive a row of figs, an abutment in the chamber and forming a closure for one end thereof, a plunger, means mounting the plunger for sliding movement into the chamber from the other end and toward the abutment to compress the figs, a slide disposed outwardly of the abutment, means mounting the slide for movement toward the abutment, a plate on the slide to support one end of a threading needle, the abutment being formed to support the other end of the needle, said needle when supported being substantially axially alined with the row of figs, means mounting the slide for movement toward the abutment, and means on the slide to engage the adjacent end of the needle whereby with such movement of the slide to project the needle through the row of figs.

6. A fig stringing machine comprising a chamber to receive a row of figs, an abutment in one end of the chamber, a plunger, means mounting the plunger for axial movement through the other end of the chamber to compress the figs, means included with said abutment to support a threading needle in substantially axial alinement with the row of figs, at the end opposite the plunger, and means to project the needle through the row of figs, the abutment and inner end of the plunger having alined openings therein through which the needle may pass.

7. A fig stringing machine comprising a cylindrical chamber to receive a row of figs, means including a cylindrical plunger to compress the figs in said chamber and means toproject a threading needle axially through the figs While compressed; the chamber comprising a fixed semicircular'member and a complementary semicircular lid.

8. A fig stringing machine comprising an enclosed chamber to receive a row of relatively soft processed figs, means to compress the row of figs longitudinally to reduce the length and increase the diameter of said row, the chamber having a predetermined cross sectional area whereby to limit the diametral increase of the row, a threading needle, and means to project the needle axially through the row of figs while compressed.

9. That method of stringing figs comprising the steps of establishing a row of irregular rela tively soft processed figs, compressing the row of figs longitudinally to reduce its length and increase its diameter, limiting said diametral increase throughout the length of the row whereby each fig in the row is increased to substantially the same diameter, and then threading said row of figs while compressed on a retaining string.

10. A fig stringing machine comprising a chamber to receive a row of figs, means to compress the row of figs in said chamber and means to project a threading needle axially through the row of figs while compressed; the chamber comprising a fixed trough-like member and a complementary lid member. g

11. A device as in claim 10 in which the complementary lid member is pivoted along one edge for swinging movement to and from complementary engagement with the other member.

RICHARD FAIR. 

